4134545 Resolution 19-715, "Sense of the Council on Funding the Arts and Humanities Enterprise Fund and the Film DC Economic Incentive Fund Emergency Resolution of 2012"

A RESOLUTION

                                                        

19-715  

 

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

December 4, 2012

 

 

To declare, on an emergency basis, the sense of the Council regarding funding the Arts and Humanities Enterprise Fund and the Film DC Economic Incentive Fund.

 

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Sense of the Council on Funding the Arts and Humanities Enterprise Fund and the Film DC Economic Incentive Fund Emergency Resolution of 2012”.

 

Sec. 2.  The Council finds that:

            (1)  The District of Columbia has a golden opportunity to examine how to generate revenue by funding the Arts and Humanities Enterprise Fund, established in section 6a of the Commission on the Arts and Humanities Act, effective January 29, 1998 (D.C. Law 12-42; D.C. Official Code § 39-205.01) ("Arts Fund"), and the Film DC Economic Incentive Fund, established pursuant to section 2 of the Film DC Economic Incentive Act of 2006, effective March 14, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-290; D.C. Official Code § 39-501) ("Film Fund"), to establish a creative and artistic economic development engine.

            (2)  Neither the Arts Fund nor the Film Fund has been funded since being established in 1998 and 2007, respectively. The Council recognized the need for a dedicated funding source when the Arts Fund and the Film Fund were created.  The funding need continues. It is time to determine how to provide a long-term, dedicated source of funding for both funds.

            (3) Funding public art creates opportunities for artists, supports the creative economy of Washington, D.C., and sends a message that public art is important, particularly in an information-based economy.

            (4)  There are many positive effects of public art.  Public art creates more congenial and social public spaces, contributes to the visual character and texture of the community, commemorates history or cultural heritage, fosters a sense of spirit and pride, clarifies neighborhood identity, reflects diversity, and encourages public interaction with the government.

            (5) Washington, D.C. is the nation’s capital.  Its residents and millions of annual visitors deserve to see great public art throughout the District. 

            (6)  Funding for the film and television industry, as with funding public art, will help Washington to capitalize on being the nation’s capital and create opportunities for Washington residents and businesses by attracting the movie and TV industry. The landmarks, monuments, and diverse neighborhoods in Washington make it the ideal choice for motion picture and TV development. 

            (7)  Black Entertainment Television (“BET”), which is headquartered in Washington and has a large sound stage, does not film its programs in Washington, primarily due to a lack of incentives.  Instead, BET films in Georgia where it receives incentives and spends an estimated $60 million annually.

            (8)  Washington, D.C. must compete with Georgia and other states and cities offering huge incentives to attract the movie and TV industry, including the neighboring jurisdictions of Maryland and Virginia, where the District lags behind and may never be able to compete for the business if it does not act now. 

            (9) The Art in Public Space, Motion Picture and Television Production Funds Act of 2012, as approved by the Committee on Small and Local Business Development (Committee print of Bill 19-992), sought to provide a dedicated funding source for the Arts Fund and the Film Fund. On October 2, 2012, Bill 19-992, was co-introduced by Councilmembers Orange and Barry, and co-sponsored by Councilmember Evans. The bill was sequentially referred to the Committee on Small and Local Business Development (“SLBD”) and the Committee on Government Operations.  

            (10)  The Committee on SLBD did a significant amount of work on B19-992. The committee held a hearing on November 26, 2012, and a markup on November 29, 2012. The bill was approved by the committee; however, there is not enough time to move a permanent act through both committees before the end of Council Period 19. 

            (11)  Thomas Howell, Jr. wrote a November 27, 2012 article in The Washington Times about the Committee on SLBD public oversight hearing on November 26, 2012, titled, “Missing Out on ‘Lincoln’ Film Costly to DC”. The Washington Times article stated, “[t]he District's neighbors have been successful in attracting new productions and the accompanying financial benefits. Earlier this month, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell said the television and film industry brought nearly $400 million to the state last year, a 14.5 % increase over the previous year, because producers took advantage of grant funds and tax credits. In Maryland, lawmakers this year flirted with legislation that would triple the state's tax credit for film production from its current level of $7.5 million per year.”

            (12)  The Washington Times article also stated: “Officials in 37 states use film tax credits to build up their local arts industry and draw tourism even as they cut their budgets and cope with decelerating revenue, according to a report this year from professional services group Ernst & Young.”  

                        (13)  The Ernest & Young report mentioned in the Washington Times article is attached to the SLBD Committee Report along with other Ernst & Young reports about Michigan and New Mexico film incentive programs.

            (14)  The Washington Times article demonstrates the need to recognize the work of the Committee on SLBD and to express the desire of the Council that the Executive Branch of District government establish an Art, Film, and Television Funding Task Force (“Task Force”).

            (15)  The Task Force shall be charged with determining means of funding public art from a dedicated source and with examining the 4 main obstacles to film and television production in the District of Columbia:  (1) lack of a sound stage; (2) lack of an incentive fund; (3) lack of training for film and production crews; and (4) lack of a streamlined permit process.  The Task Force should determine how to best address the obstacles in order to start an economic development engine for the film and television industries to make a permanent footprint in Washington, D.C. 

 

Sec. 3.  It is the sense of the Council that an Art, Film, and Television Funding Task Force will help the nation’s capital determine how to provide dedicated funding for public art and to build the foundation to offer competitive incentives for film and television production in the District. This Task Force will put the world on notice that Washington, D.C. is serious about public art and about attracting the movie and TV industry.

 

Sec. 4.  The Secretary to the Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution, upon its adoption, to the Commission on Arts and Humanities and the Office of Motion Picture and Television Development.

 

Sec. 5.  This resolution shall take effect immediately.